bouchard



(No Model.)

J. BOUCHARD. SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS. No. 459,437. Patented Sept.15,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BOUOHARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JONATHAN o.ARMOUR, or sAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,437, datedSeptember 15, 1891. Application filed March 16 1891. I Serial No.385,245. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BOUCHARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switches for OverheadTracks, which is fully set forth in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1represents an elevation of a section of track embodying my invention;Fig. 2, a plan section of the same,-taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;Fig. 3, a cross-section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, adetail crosssection taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an elevationof the switch-lever detached, with the handle broken away; and Fig. 6, adetail plan section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

This invention relates to switches for overhead or suspended tracks ofany description; but the improvement is more particularly de signed forbutchers tracks, such as are used in large slaughtering-houses, in whichit is desired to connect a single line of track with any one of a seriesof other tracks running in different directions. A structure of thisdescription is shown and described in my prior Letters Patent No.399,008, dated March 5,- 1889; and the present invention is in thenature of an improvement upon the structure there shown. It will not benecessary to describe in detail all parts of the structure, for in allgeneral features reference may be made to my said prior patent.

In the drawings, A represents a main or single track suspended from theceiling by hangers a, and B 0 two separate tracks coming in towardthe-track A from difierent directions and supported at their terminalsby similar hangers b c. The switch-rail D is pivoted to the foot of thehanger a, and swings horizontally from said pivot as a center, so as toconnect at its other end with either of the rails B or C. At the pivotedend of this switch-rail there is on one side a projecting lug d, whichserves as a stop by abutting against the vertical edge of the hangerwhen the switch-rail is swung to connect with the rail 0.

An angle-iron bracket E is fastened to the side of the rail near itsmovable end and is provided with a slot, 6 cut in its horizontal member.

A connecting-link F is pivoted atone end to the foot of the hanger c andat the other end is connected to the bracket by means of a pin f passingthrough the slot in the bracket. This swinging link, therefore, providesa support and guide for this end of the switch-rail.

A link G connects the bracket to a hand-lever H, being pivoted at itsrespective ends to these parts, thus providing for the swinging of theswitch-rail by means of the lever. The construction and mounting of thislever is somewhat peculiar and will now be explained. The hanger c isprovided with a lug 0', projecting outward from its side and locatednear its upper end. On this lug is mounted a circular disk I, beingfixed on the outer face of the lug, and this disk is provided on theunder side with two peripheral notches 'i and on the upper side with onebroad peripheral notch 41'. The lever H is provided at its pivotal endwith a ring it, which is adapted to embrace and inclose the disk I, andthe lever is pivoted to said disk by means of a screw pin or bolt h.Thelever extends a little beyond its pivot and at its extremity justwithin the ring is provided with an inwardly projecting lug h .Whenmounted on the disk, as described, this lever is arranged to dependtherefrom, so as to bring the handle within easy reach of an attendantstanding on the floor, and in this position the end lug h lies in thebroad upper notch z" of the disk and obviously will serve as a stop tolimit the throw of the lever. A spring-catch is also provided to engagewith the lower notches 'i of the disk. This consists of a slidingcatch-rod J, arranged alongside the lever and pivoted at its outer endto a spring-latch K, while its inner end passes through an aperture 77.in the ring in a posi tion to engage with one of the said'notches. Thespring-latch K is of ordinary construction, being of bell-crank form andpivoted to the side of the handle by one of its arms,

while the other embraces the handle and is provided with aretracting-spring k, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It will be seenfrom this description that the vibration of the lever will throw theswitch-rail as desired; that thrown with a sudden jerk. This requires,

very strong devices for the purpose, and also such as will operate toadjust the switch-rail with absolute certainty. These advantages areobtained by my improvement as herein described and shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In overhead tracks, the main and branch rails, in combination withthe switch-rail D, slotted bracket E, link F, lever H, and link G,substantially as described.

2. The lever H, provided with a ring it, the

.fiXed disk I, on which the lever-ringis mounted, the switch-rail D,andthe link G, connecting' said lever to the rail, substantially as described.

3. The fixed disk I, provided with notch i,

in combination with the lever H, provided with ring 72., arranged toinclose said disk, and a lug 7L2, fitting said notch, the switch-rail D,and connecting link G, substantially as described.

4. The fixed disk I, provided with notches 2', in combination with thelever H, provided with inclosing ring h, the spring-latch J, theswitch-railD, and connecting-link G, substantially as described.

JOHN BOUCHARD. Witnesses:

SMITH OoLLINs, L. W. KERNEY.

